Bloglander

• Uva Trattoria
• Uva Trattoria opened in Coeur d'Alene this week.

A new Italian restaurant on Coeur d’Alene’s Fourth Street corridor, Uva Trattoria, is now open. An Italian deli, Marina’s New York Deli, opened recently in North Spokane, too. Read more about what both are offering in this week’s Entree newsletter.

Java on Sherman is now open in their new location a few blocks down at 819 Sherman.

Also changing location is North Spokane Mexican restaurant Pueblo Amigo, moving just a short ways from Francis down to a space near NorthTown Mall.

A new cafe is coming to the International District location that was previously the Flying Pig: The Ivory Table, which is opening June 3. They’re currently seeking artists who’d like their work displayed.

A new restaurant called Palouse Caboose is coming to Palouse, Wash., later this summer.

More than 100 people were in line by 7:30 this morning for the opening of a new Papa John’s on the South Hill, hoping to be among the lucky first customers to win free pizza for a year. The owner is Matt Goodwin, who also owns Press, the Volstead Act and the Boiler Room.

• Papa John's South Hill
• People got up really early this morning in hopes of winning free pizza for a year.

With the new Target on the South Hill getting closer to opening, the developer announced some other nearby businesses, including a Cafe Rio and Anthony’s Beach Cafe.

It seems like only a little while since we first found out about the pack of restaurants opening in Kendall Yards. With the Wandering Table now open — here’s the full story from this week’s issue — the only eatery still under construction is Veraci Pizza. And they’re in the hiring phase.

It looks like designer extraordinaire Karli Ingersoll is working on the logo for Durkin’s Liquor Bar. As mentioned before, the new Main Avenue restaurant from the people behind Madeleine’s and Casper Fry is presumably named after Jimmie Durkin, famous liquor king of early Spokane. Looking through old papers, it doesn’t seem like Durkin had much consistent branding for his downtown stores — but he knew what he was doing with the ad copy.

• 1904 advertisement in the Spokane Chronicle.

It’s on the other side of the state, unfortunately, but the Washington Brewers Festival on June 13-15 is the biggest one yet with 88 breweries, including a respectable Spokane-area delegation: Iron Goat, No-Li, Orlison, Paradise Creek, Ramblin’ Road and Twelve String. See the full list of breweries here and — just announced — what they’re all pouring.

Paradise Creek is also celebrating its 4th anniversary tomorrow with three casks and other festivities.

• Riley Cran

No-Li’s latest in its Expo Series is Noble Hop, an extra pale ale. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it better be delicious since the bottle is my favorite color.

And on a sadder note, the craft beer community is mourning the death of Jack Joyce, who co-founded Rogue Ales in 1988 and helped forge the path for the resurgence of local craft brewers.

Finally, it’s not possible to write a blog post for the Inlander this week without mentioning Volume, our massive music festival, but fortunately there’s a good reason to mention it here. We’re setting up Volume HQ at the parking lot on Sprague across from the Satellite and Irv’s, and joining us will be several food trucks: Bistro Box, Shameless Sausages, King of Tacos and Fatburger. And you should buy a Volume wristband because it will be a fun time — and you get discounts at Bistango, Rock City Grill, Atticus and River City Brewing — but you don’t need a wristband to come enjoy our mini food truck rally.

Read previous food news here.

• Selkirk Pizza & Tap House, left, and the Wandering Table, right, are both opening this week.

Today is the grand opening for the Wandering Table, the newest restaurant in Kendall Yards and the second owned by chef Adam Hegsted. The tapas-style menu is meant to be shared so everyone can try a variety of flavors — so bring a few friends and pick at least one dish that seems more adventurous.

The restaurant formerly known as Fat Daddy’s is totally renovated and now open as Selkirk Pizza & Tap House. They’ve got a salad bar and a variety of sandwiches and pizzas. See the menu here.

This week’s issue has a big feature on Saranac Commons and what’s coming soon to the building on Main Avenue, which is scheduled to open in July. Instead of listing everything, you can just read it here.

This week’s Entree newsletter has more about Egg It On, which still needs to be described as the brunch place where Hooters used to be at least for a little longer. And there’s also the return of the Garlic Mobile truck from the White House Grill. More details on where to find it here.

Manito Park Bench Cafe in Manito Park is opening for the season tomorrow.

We’ve been wondering where exactly in West Central we’ll be able to find Batch Bakeshop’s new storefront, and they’ve announced the address: 2023 W. Dean Ave., which is really in the heart of West Central. This is the darling little building, according to Google Street View:

The building will also be home to Flora, a yogurt company, which is almost halfway to its Kickstarter goal with a week left to go.

New on Kickstarter this week is the return of Spiceologist, which previously ran a successful campaign for the Spiceologist Block. This time it’s a campaign for their spice blend rubs in hopes of launching nationwide. Downdraft Brewing Co.’s campaign is also continuing for another month.

Getting in on the brewery-and-food-truck trend is Norma Jean’s with a breakfast menu.

Today is the 4th annual bee appreciation day at the Thursday Market on South Perry, so go learn about why bees are important for pretty much everything we eat.

Ramblin Road and Wisconsinburger are both opening new outdoor patios.

Master mixologist Paul Harrington, of Clover, has one of his signature cocktails from his 1990s California days featured in Imbibe magazine as one of 10 “contemporary cocktails on the path to becoming future classics.”

Wallace Brewing is starting to bottle their signature beers in six-packs as well as 22-ounce bottles.

Morning Sun Bakery had their outdoor tables and chairs stolen, even though they were locked down. And Something Else Deli is closed today due to copper wire theft outside their location.

• WSU

WSU announced the name of its new apple: Cosmic Crisp.

Careful with sprouts! Officials issued an E. coli warning yesterday after several people got sick from Idaho-grown sprouts distributed to Pita Pit and Jimmy John’s locations in the area, as well as Daanen’s Deli in Hayden.

Finally, something in the art-and-drinking category that has nothing to do with painting and wine — Mootsy's is hosting the 2014 Spring PBR Art Contest on June 5, but entries must be submitted by May 26. That's Monday. Rules: You must be at least 21. Art must involve "a likeness of PBR and Mootsy's yellow door in some form or fashion." The winning art will be on display for a month on a billboard in the Spokane market.

Read previous food news here.

Earlier this year, Orlison Brewing Co. created the Pilsner 37 to benefit Team Gleason, the charity founded by Steve Gleason to help people with ALS. The beer has been available around town on tap, but after today it will also be available in cans. Here, Brewmaster Bernie Düenwald and production manager Mark Borland talk about the collaboration with Team Gleason, the difference between lagers and ales, and how the canning process works.

• Clockwise from top left: Underground 15, Brain Freeze, Nudo and the Deli at Northern Quest.

Brain Freeze Creamery is open! We’ve got the full writeup in this week’s issue. We’ve also got a feature about the Fork in Coeur d’Alene.

Nudo is open! Here’s the menu, and if you think ramen is that dry stuff in packets that college kids subsist on, you should read up on the vast, gourmet world of ramen and the largest ramen festival in the U.S.

Underground 15, the new bar in the former Blue Spark, is formally opening this weekend. The actual bar is in the same location, but the business owners have opened the place up and redecorated with a steampunky reclaimed-materials theme. We hear they’ll be having live music regularly, too.

Northern Quest likes to shake up their restaurant offerings every so often, and the newest is a spot called the Deli in the previous Villa location.

The Growler Guys, a mini-chain founded in Bend, Ore., is opening not one but two stores in Spokane, with the first up north on Newport Highway and the second planned for 29th Avenue on the South Hill.

In case you’ve missed it so far, we’re heading into the end of this year’s American Craft Beer Week. It’s super easy to celebrate — just go have a pint at any local brewery — but here are a few specific happenings:

• Tonight, Iron Goat is doing a tap takeover at Pilgrim’s Market in Coeur d’Alene, including a beer brewed exclusively for the market.

• No-Li is hosting special tappings every day at 5 pm through this weekend, including a Wheat India Session Ale made in “collaBEERation” with Iron Goat, plus a local brewery tap takeover on the patio Saturday afternoon.

• Tonight at No-Li, Ramblin’ Road is releasing a Belgian Quad.

• 12 String is doing something different each night of the week, including an Electric Slide Imperial IPA night this evening — one version aged in Dry Fly barrels, one a firkin and the regular version.

• Perry Street Brewing is having $4 Belgian day on Friday for their dubbel and tripel, and on Saturday will have a limited release of their new double IPA.

• Orlison canned their 37 Pilsner for the first time today — you can see the whole process here.

• Battle of the Homebrews is happening this Saturday in Post Falls with with 50 amateur homebrewers vying for cash prizes and the chance to have their winning recipe brewed at Waddell’s.

• Post Street Ale House is putting local brews on 13 of their tap handles, and offering a free basket of fried pickles if you spend $10 through May 18.

• Total Wine is doing 15 percent off all beer singles — cans and bottles — through May 18.

Cheers! Read previous food news here.

• Lisa Waananen
• Brain Freeze is opening early next week. Next door, the Wandering Table is opening later this month.

The Brain Freeze shop in Kendall Yards is opening early next week. Next door, the Wandering Table announced its opening date: May 22.

Egg It On, a new brunch joint in the former Hooter’s location, is now open.

Paragon Brewing in Coeur d’Alene is now open, and serving up a variety of local brews.

This week’s issue includes features on two new places: Penny’s Pit Pub & Lounge in Rathdrum and Fish St. Tacos in North Spokane. This week's Entree newsletter has more about just how many new places are opening soon.

The Fountain Cafe in Riverfront Park is now on its full summer schedule, open every day of the week.

The markets are back! The South Perry market is moving back outdoors today for the first time this year, and we hear they’ve got fresh produce, plant starts, cheese bread and more. The Spokane Farmers’ Market returns Saturday, and the farmers market in Moscow is also back for the season.

And, somewhat related, here’s a new Kickstarter campaign from Flora, a yogurt company, which is planning to share space with Batch Bakeshop when they open this July in West Central. Pledge $500 to get a quart of yogurt every week for a year.

A country nightclub called the Palomino Club is soon opening at what used to be the Center.

Ambrosia Bistro in Spokane Valley is getting a new executive chef: Don Leonard, who’s worked at Latah Bistro, Italia Trattoria, the Davenport and Central Food.

Conveniently in time for Mother’s Day, it’s Spring Release Weekend for local wineries around town. Here’s a list of new releases and events from Nectar Tasting Room, and the Cork District page has a lot more.

Then, starting Monday it’s American Craft Beer Week. (Brush up on your beer vocabulary with the handy guide in this week’s issue.) No-Li is hosting Master Cicerone Nicole Erny — the youngest person and first woman to pass the two-day master cicerone exam — on Monday evening. And this American Craft Beer Week flag could use a little more Inland Northwest representation, but No-Li got itself a nice place of honor:

Coming up a bit later, the Spo-Can canned craft beer festival is returning to the Elk at the end of May.

Read previous food news here.

• Amy Hunter
• Chairs Coffee, shown here shortly after it opened, has now closed its doors. Chairs Public House remains open.

The original Chairs Coffee on Indiana Avenue closed its doors for good last Friday. Last fall when the owners of Chairs Coffee opened their newer location, Chairs Public House, they reduced the evening hours at the original shop — reluctantly, because they knew many customers and groups had made a routine of meeting there during its three years open. Chairs Public House is open from 6 am to 2 am daily.

Porch Light Pizza in Pullman is now open, with such a successful first day they ran out of dough.

South Main Restaurant and Sports Bar in Colville is now open as well, with a full bar and breakfast served all day.

Doyle’s Ice Cream Parlor, which traditionally opens for the season the weekend of Bloomsday, will be opening a little later this year due to plumbing issues over the winter. But they won’t be missing Bloomsday — grab an ice cream sandwich at the top of Doomsday Hill by the community center.

Browne’s Tavern in Brown’s Addition (naturally) is doing a soft opening today, with a grand opening scheduled for May 15. Also opening very soon are Nudo and the Brain Freeze Creamery shop.

Eat your way through First Friday tomorrow: Stop by the food truck rally outside City Hall for lunch or dinner (and we hear Dawn of the Donut will be there bright and early) and then head over to Barili Cellars' 5th anniversary party for the release of their newest wine, Cinque — “five” in Italian — and appetizers, music and the launch of a new wine club.

The two brothers who opened the Hop Shop on the South Hill four years ago are turning over ownership to a pair of sisters, Mel Wood and Emily Redington.

A few notes on the brunch front: Bon Bon is planning to start serving weekend brunch, and Latah Bistro is expanding to both weekend mornings. And you should make Mother’s Day reservations now.

Another craft brewery is starting up — or getting official, anyway. Keep an eye out for Badass Backyard Brewing.

And according to licenses, Cheney is getting a new winery: Blended Roots Winery.

Downdraft Brewing Co. (formerly Cloudburst Brewing) launched a “build-a-brewery” Kickstarter campaign in hopes of opening this summer.

Best of luck to Downdraft, of course, but it does raise the question of whether we’ve reached a saturation point in regional food-related Kickstarters. Three other recent ones — Fusion Flours, Fenwyr Cellars and Love @ First Bite — have failed to reach their goals. Two that succeeded recently — Batch Bakeshop and Yards Bruncheon/Wandering Table — met their goals, but only barely, and both benefited from a well-known track record around town. Looking back further, Spiceologist Block and Santé’s trip to the James Beard House in New York also squeaked past the finish line, and that was after both received a relatively substantial amount of media coverage. Two recent brewery campaigns — Black Label Brewing Company and Mad Bomber Brewing Co. — both met their goals. But, more recently, One Tree Hard Cider did not.

It’s a rule of thumb with Kickstarter that most projects either succeed or fail to get off the ground at all. Very few projects collapse just inches from the finish line. That’s true in the food category, according to Kickstarter’s live stats: 64 percent of unsuccesful food projects never reached even 20 percent of the funding goal. And that seems to be true of our local projects, too — if the campaign can get some momentum at the outset, it will probably do OK.

Finally, here’s a thing that’s been called the best of all things on the Internet: Tiny Hamsters Eating Tiny Burritos.

Read previous food news here.

• Zoe Underground
• Zoe Underground on the Washington State University campus, located in the basement of a building where the walls are papered with vintage student newspapers.

Earlier this week, Zoe Underground in Pullman got an abrupt April 30 eviction notice from its spot in the basement of an historic building on the Washington State University campus. It turns out the building, long used as an interfaith community center, is being sold to the university — and the eviction news caused enough of a stir that WSU quickly said it would honor the original lease agreements that go through the end of the year. The reprieve probably doesn’t mean Zoe will stay put, though, since the owner is already looking for a new location. It’s a popular spot for students and faculty, but it’s worth stopping by for the underground newspapers from the student unrest days in the 1960s and ’70s that paper the back hallway from its time as a student activism hub.

Also in Pullman, Artfully Yours Bakery — which specializes in gluten- and allergen-free baked goods — is leaving its Main Street location for a new spot at Gladish Community Center.

And, one more WSU note — Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, which is rarely open on weekends except for football game days, decided to be open from 1 to 4 pm this Saturday because a prospective student day happened to align with Springfest.

Spokane Cheesecakes has been open in its new location at 1420 E. Sprague since December, but they’re now celebrating a formal grand opening on Saturday. Stop by for samples and enter the drawing for a large cheesecake.

Remember that coffee stand that was vandalized with racist graffiti? And then it turned out to be sabotage from one of the owners? Well, it’s now reopening with entirely new ownership and a new name, 509 Grind.

A new coffee spot in Coeur d’Alene, Fuel Espresso, is opening May 3 with coffee from Sandpoint-based Evans Brothers.

Also in Coeur d’Alene, Paragon Brewing is set to open later in May, as is Theodore’s Fine Dining inside the historic Roosevelt Inn.

Manito Tap House is the state’s only four-star green restaurant certified by the Green Restaurant Association, which got them a mention on the Daily Meal’s list of the nation’s greenest restaurants.

Finally, so many options if you feel like drinking some beer this weekend:

• No-Li is hosting a small-batch beer festival on Saturday.

• Lantern Tap House is continuing its anniversary festivities by featuring Iron Goat’s Head Butt IPA barrel-aged with Dry Fly gin barrels.

• The Buy Local Moscow BrewFest is happening Friday evening at the 1912 Center, with beverages from Paradise Creek Brewery, River City Brewing, Trickster Brewing and Whiskey Barrel Cider of Pullman.

• Any IPA at River City Brewing is just $2 a pint through the end of April.

• Plus, read about Girls’ Pint Out upcoming outings in this week’s Entree newsletter.